Multiple clothesline reel



May 16, 1950 F. F. PRIHODA MULTIPLE CLOTHESLINE REEL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 19, 1948 Flchl.

R m m m ATTORNEY May 16, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 19, 1948 FIG.6.

INVENTOR 2 W A TT ORNE Y Patented May 16, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MULTIPLE CLOTHESLINE REEL Fred F. Prihoda, San Jose, Calif.

- Application October 19, 1948, Serial No. 55,307

Claims.

This invention relates to a multiple clothes line appliance and has for its chief characteristic the provision where one or more reels of clothes line could be separately unreeled to any point desired and there the line fastened, each reel being independent of the other as to the length of line used and with the structural elements so arranged that any line or all may be easily wound in again.

Another object is to provide a substantial casing designed to accommodate as many reels as desired when constructed, the casing in this disclosure having only three reels and in any case the said casing to be either permanently attached to the wall as a regular fixture, or hung only when wanted, the casing also carries means whereby the line used may be fastened and securely held.

A further object is to provide appliance of this type to be used either indoors or out where facilities are limited so that the line could be reeled in and out of sight when not in use, and to provide a practical household appliance that is simple in operation, comprising but few parts and inexpensive in construction.

The nature of the invention will be better understood when the following detail description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a detail front elevation of my invention with a sectional view showing the relation of the flexible disk springs to the reels.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the reel showing its composition.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the reel.

Fig. 4 is the front and side view of the flexible disk spring.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the axle.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the casing showing the arrangement of the ratchet mechanism with the axle.

Fig. 7 is a side view of the casing with the side plate obviated to show the connection of the cord with the reel and also its connection to the case.

Fig. 8 is a rear elevation of my invention with a sectional view at both sides.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the casing showing the cord fastening device.

The multiple clothesline reel in the present instance consists of a casing 50 which may be constructed from any suitable material and may also vary in design without departing from the spirit of the invention, the casing being primarily intended to contain a plurality of clothes line 2, reels to fit Various needs and to be used either indoors or in the larger models outdoors, the number of the reels to be determined for the different models when the appliance is being constructed.

Referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that in this disclosure the casing 50 accommodates three reels of clothes line, the reel l6, Fig. 2, being composed of two identical halves, each half, Fig. 3, being stamped out of a single piece of sheet metal and joined together as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 at IU, each half having a center opening II for the reception of the axle I2 on which the reels revolve. Each half of the reel has its drum portion 20 forced out in about degree angle from the outside wall 2|, and part of its face inverted toward the outside portion, providing a hub 23 for the purpose of establishing a safer and wider bearing for the center opening ll of the reel as shown in Fig. 2. Two apertures 25 and 26 formed in each half of the reel and opposing each other are provided for the insertion of the cord, the aperture 26 having a narrow portion cut through the periphery of the drum, this portion being semicircular but assuming a circular form when the two halves are joined and secured together. Through this opening 21 the cord is inserted into the reel, entering first through the opening 3| ,in the front of the casing 50 and passing through the reel at 26 and 25 and out through the opening 32 of the rear wall 31 of the casing where the end of the cord is provided with a single knot and pulled back, the knot retaining the cord against the inside of the drum 20 of the reel I6 and associating the cord with the reel as shown in Fig. 7.

Each of the side plates 14 and I4 of the casing 50 is provided with a center bearing 9 for the reception of the axle l2, which together with the crank is formed from a single piece of material. The function of the said axle is twofold, first it supports the reels revolving on the axle when the reels are unreeled and the cord connected to the reel is drawn out as shown in Fig. 6, arrow A. In this operation the axle does not rotate, being held securely through the medium of a ratchet wheel [5 keyed to the axle I2, said ratchet wheel having inclined angular teeth between which a pawl l1 tensioned by a spring 18 drops, preventing the outward rotation of the axle. The second function of the axle takes place when the reels drawn out are wound in again.

Keyed to the'axle I2 is the already mentioned ratchet wheel l5 and also a set of flexible disk springs l9, embracing each side of the reel as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 8, said disk springs being designed to impart a moderate pressure against the sides of each reel, producing a spring like friction whereby the reel is secured yieldingly rotatable to the axle. By this arrangement any reel could be drawn out revolving on the securely held axle without interfering with the other, or wound in again by the axle I2 through the medium of the crank IS. The axle rotates in the free direction of the inclined teeth of the ratchet wheel I as shown in Fig. 6 by the arrow B and by the reason of the association of the axle with the flexible disk springs I9 the latter embracing the reels with moderate pressure, the axle also rotates the reels to be reeled in.

The flexible disk spring I9 is formed from a round thin disk and stamped out so that the two opposing parts 3 are bent outwardly, and the other two opposing parts 2 are bent inwardly as shown in Fig. 4. By this arrangement one flexible disk spring is capable by its reciprocal pressure to function against two reels as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 8. The center opening I of the flexible disk spring I9 is the same as the center opening of the ratchel wheel l5, and fitting the axle of which a segment 4 is removed as shown in Fig. 5 and by which means the ratchet wheel I5 and the flexible disk spring I9 are keyed to the axle I2. If desired the openings may be hexagonal or square, the shape of the axle to conform with these openings. The center bearing II of the reel I6 and the center bearing 9 of the side plate I4 and I4 must be round in any event.

The axle I2, inserted through the bearing 9 of the side plate I4 carries between the said side plate and a cotter pin 5, secured in the hole 5' of the axle I2 a flat washer 8 provided to equalize the distance from the side plates, the other side having the ratchet wheel I5. The cotter pin 5 retains the outside flexible disk spring I9 which is keyed to the axle maintaining its pressure against the outside reel at this end. The second flexible disk spring I9 contacts this outside reel on the inner side and also the center reel, the third flexible disk spring I9 contacts the center reel and the other outside reel, the fourth flexible disk spring I9 contacting the outside portion of the outside reel on the opposite end. The reels when pressed together with the flexible disk springs are held together by the second cotter pin 6 secured in the hole 6 of the axle I2 as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 8. By this grouping the flexible disk springs will exert a certain grip on the reels, enabling the reels to rotate alone or with the axle as explained before. From this order of assembling it will be easily understood, that additional reels may be added if desired, providing the length of the axle and the width of the case is in proportion to the additional reels.

The ratchet wheel I5 fitted to the axle I2 is easily engaged by the pawl IT. This pawl is pivotally mounted at 20 to the side plate I4 and has a narrow extension projecting through the said plate as shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 8 by which the pawl I! could be lifted and adjusted to the ratchet wheel. The side plate I4 and side plate I4 are pushed into the grooved channels 34 formed on each side of the front part of the case 50 by which manner the side plates are joined with the front part of the case, the said front part having three spaced extensions 35 each at the top and at the bottom to fit the narrow oblong openings of the rear wall 31 and through which the said extensions are pushed bringing the rear wall '4 31 to a juncture with the front part 50 and the side walls I4 and I4. When these extensions 35 are bent over even with the rear wall 31 as shown in Figs. 6, '7 and 8, the case is completely joined together.

The openings 3| of the case 50 spaced horizontally above each reel and in the path of the cord are for the passage of the cord and also provide a stop for the reel when the reel is wound in. As mentioned before, each reel is connected yieldingly rotatable to the axle and by this arrangement any reel could be reeled out to any length desired, or reeled in with crank I3 of the axle I2 without any interference with the other. The flexible disk springs I9 embracing each side of the reel I6 and forming a moderate pressure against the reel will yield its grip when a stronger resistance is encountered, which is when the cord reeled in is stopped by its eye 10 against the opening 3| of the case 50 and in which case the reel stops also. The flexible disk springs I9 keyed to the axle and embracing this reel will yield its grip and will slide over the sides of the reel and will rotate with the axle when the axle is turned. It will be apparent that the shortest cord out is wound in first and its reel stopped, the next length out is wound in and its reel stopped, and so on. When only one reel is unreeled, that reel will slide over the sides of its flexible disk springs, these being held in place by the secured axle, and when wound in all flexible disk springs will turn with the axle, sliding over the reels that are in, and gripping only the one that is out and movable and turning it until the reel is stopped as explained before.

The case 50 is provided with a cord fastening device 59, Fig. 9, located above the openings 3| of the said case and by which the cord drawn out is fastened at this end. This cord fastening device consists of three V shaped members, one for each reel, and elevated in about 30 degrees from its base, each having at the base on each side out out portions, forming about 45 degrees angle to provide a triple wedge by which the cord is firmly secured by looping the cord over as shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 9.

The outside end of the cord, as mentioned before, is provided with an eye Ill, this eye has a. portion cut away on one side to facilitate its hooking operation at this end, the cord could be secured either by the said eye to a hook, or by a noose formed by the cord when the cord is inserted through the cut out portion of the eye 10, to any convenient object.

The rear wall 31 of the case 50 is provided at the top and at the bottom with openings 46 for the reception of wood screws, by which the case could be permanently secured in any convenient place or connected to a hook only when wanted.

I believe that the foregoing description, together with the accompanying drawings will explain my invention fully, and I desire to have it understood that any changes may be resorted to when desired, as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

I claim:

1. In multiple clothesline reel, a case having side walls provided with center bearings to accommodate an axle supporting a plurality of clothesline reels, the said case when proportionally designed being able to accommodate as many reels as desired, said case having frontal openings spaced horizontally and in line with each reel for the passage of the cord, the front part of the case being semi-cylindrical from the vertical center line of the side walls, the reels loosely mounted to the said axle and embraced and gripped on each side with a moderate pressure by flexible disk springs keyed to the axle, a pin inserted through the axle maintaining the reels at one end, another pin inserted through the axle at the opposite end locking the reels and the flexible disk springs together whereby the reels are connected yieldingly rotatably to the axle, means whereby the cord drawn out is fastened to the case, means whereby the outgoing end is fastened at the opposite end, and a. crank connected to the axle to wind the reels drawn out in again.

2. In multiple clothesline reel, a case having side walls provided with center bearings to accommodate an axle supporting a plurality of clothesline reels operating within the said case, the reels loosely mounted to the axle each clasped and gripped on each side by flexible disk springs keyed to the axle, the said flexible disk springs imparting a moderate pressure against the reels securing the reels yieldingly rotatably to the axle enabling each reel to be reeled out separately or with the axle when wound in, means whereby the reels and the flexible disk springs are secured together, a ratchet wheel keyed to the axle, said ratchet wheel being held securely and the axle respectively by a pawl tensioned by a. spring when the reels are reeled out but capable of rotating in the free direction of the inclined teeth of the ratchet wheel when the crank of the axle is turned, the flexible disk springs keyed to the axle gripping the reels enabling the axle to wind the movable reels in again.

3. In multiple clothesline reel, a case having side walls provided with center bearings to accommodate an axle supporting a plurality of clothesline reels operating within the said case, flexible disk springs each having two opposite quarters bent outwardly the other opposite quarters bent inwardly whereby one flexible disk spring contacts by its reciprocal pressure two reels when interposed between two reels, said flexible disk springs keyed to the axle impart a moderate pressure against each side of each reel connecting the reels yieldingly rotatably to the axle, means whereby the reels and the flexible disk springs are secured together, a ratchet wheel keyed to the axle and held securely by a pawl enabling the reels to revolve separately when reeled out the reels sliding between the secured flexible disk springs, the flexible disk springs gripping the sides of movable reels when the crank of the axle is turned to wind the reels out in again.

4. In multiple clothesline reel, a. case having side walls provided with center hearings to accommodate an axle supporting a plurality of clothesline reels operating within the said case, said case having in the front part thereof openings spaced horizontally and in path of each reel provided for the passage of the cord, said cord having an eye aflixed to its end by which the cord is fastened when drawn out, said eye also providing a stop for the cord and its reel respectively when the cord is fully wound in, the said eye terminating the inward movement of the cord stopping the reel enabling other movable reels to roate with the axle until stopped, said reels being connected yieldingly rotatably to the axle by flexible disk springs keyed to the axle, means whereby the reels and the flexible disk springs are secured together, said flexible disk springs embracing each reel with a moderate pressure whereby any reel could be reeled out individually or reeled in by the crank of the axle.

5. In multiple clothesline reel, a case having side walls provided with center bearings to accommodate an axle supporting a, plurality of clothesline reels operating within the said case, the front top of the said case having a cord fastening device comprising a V shaped member for each reel inclined approximately 30 degrees from its base over which the drawn out cord is looped and securely held at this end and an eye afiixed to the end of the cord securing the opposite end, the reels being connected yieldingly rotatably to the axle by flexible disk springs keyed to the axle and embracing each side of each reel with a moderate pressure enabling each reel to rotate separately when reeled out or with the axle and the flexible disk springs respectively when reeled in, means whereby the reels and the flexible disk springs are secured together, a ratchet wheel keyed to the axle and held with the axle by a pawl tensioned by a spring when the reels are reeled out but capable of rotating in the free direction of the inclined teeth of the ratchet wheel when the crank of the axle is turned enabling the axle to wind the movable reels in again.

FRED F. PRIHODA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 933,337 Peterson Sept. 7, 1909 1,261,666 Wingut Apr. 2, 1918 1,581,289 Prihoda Apr. 20, 1926 2,132,548 Stockwell et al Oct. 11, 1938 2,206,174 Falk July 2, 1940 

